nearly 9 out of 10 French people believe that people in positions of responsibility are “a large number of them corrupt”, according to a survey

87% of French people believe that people exercising responsibilities are “corrupt” Or “corrupt for a large part of them”down slightly compared to March 2019 (91%), according to a Harris Interactive study carried out for Transparency International France and the Jean Jaurès Foundation on the occasion of World Anti-Corruption Day and which franceinfo revealed on Saturday December 9 in exclusivity.

According to this study, three-quarters of French people consider that it is necessary to strengthen the resources of the justice system to investigate and prosecute acts of corruption. 70% of French people believe that a minister indicted in a corruption case should resign and among public officials, only mayors (41%), judges (45%) and civil servants (50% for civil servants). State and 46% for territorial civil servants) benefit from a predominantly positive judgment.

Furthermore, 46% of French people think that there is more corruption than before and 46% think that there is the same amount and only 7% think that it is decreasing. For 25% of French people, corruption is even an experience that they have been confronted with personally and 39% have heard about it from those around them.

On the other hand, far from giving in, 68% of French people say they are ready to report acts of corruption, primarily contacting the police (59%), the courts (44%) but also associations (36%). ). A minority of French people are more resigned: 32% of respondents who do not plan to report justify themselves by indicating that they do not like to report (30%), that it is of no use (29%) or that they fear reprisals (20%). In terms of the fight against corruption, the French believe that whistleblowers play the most important role (44%), before the courts (43%), the State in general (33%), associations (27%). %) or the press (23%).

This Harris Interactive study for Transparency International France and the Jean Jaurès Foundation was carried out online from October 25, 2023 to October 30, 2023 with a sample of 1,500 people, representative of the population aged 18 and over.